Books: The Motor Boys on the Pacific
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Clarence Young >> The Motor Boys on the Pacific
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"Isn't he a queer man," said Olivia, as they followed along behind Mr.
Snodgrass, who was walking ahead, closely scanning the ground.
"He is, but he's a good friend of ours," replied Ned. "He is very much
in earnest over his collection of insects and reptiles, and, though he
acts queerly at times, he is one of the best men in the world."
"I'm sure he must be," agreed Olivia. "I like him very much. I hope he
stays a long time, and I hope you boys do also. It's quite lonesome
here, with nothing but Mexicans and Chinese for the main part of the
population."
"We'll stay as long as you let us," said Ned.
"We can have fine times," went on the girl. "We can go boating on the
little bay, and take trips off into the country. We, ourselves,
haven't seen much of it yet, as papa was not feeling well when we
first came, and we had to stay home and care for him. But he is better
now, and we can go on little excursions.
Ned's harmless trick to get the party to a shady spot was successful.
The professor headed for the little clump of trees looking, the while,
for a horned toad, but he saw none of the queer creatures.
"My, but it's hot!" exclaimed Bob, as he sat down on the ground.
"Oh, it will be worse than this, some days," said Rose. "We are
getting used to it. But suppose we go down to the seashore? It's not
far, and there is a very pretty view."
"Perhaps I can get a horned toad there," put in the professor
hopefully.
After a short rest in the shade the little party headed for the beach.
As they came in sight of it from a small hill, the boys uttered
exclamations of delight, for a beautiful expanse of water was
stretched out before them,-- the Pacific ocean sparkling blue in the
sun.
"Oh, for our motor boat!" exclaimed Jerry. "Oh, for the Dartaway!
Couldn't we have fine sport in her, out on that bay!"
"Don't speak of it!" said Ned with a groan.
"What, is the Dartaway lost?" asked Rose.
"Gone! Busted! Smashed!" exclaimed Bob, and the boys all tried to talk
at once, telling of the disaster that had befallen their craft.
"It's too bad," declared Olivia. "But never mind. We have a couple of
rowboats, and maybe you can hire a little sailing skiff."
"It wouldn't be the Dartaway," answered Bob, with a sigh. "That boat
had the nicest little kitchen in it--"
"So, that's all you cared about her for-- the kitchen-- where you
could cook something to eat!" exclaimed Jerry. "Chunky, I'm ashamed of
you; that's what I am!"
"Well, I-- er-- I--" began Bob. "Oh, come on," he continued, and led
the way down to the beach, where there were some bathing pavilions and
several houses. The professor was walking along behind, in the vain
hope of yet discovering a horned toad, perhaps on its way to get a dip
in the surf or drink some salt water.
"I think you'll like some chocolate," said Nellie, as the boys were in
front of a little refreshment booth. "It is made by a Mexican--"
She stopped, for she saw that the boys were not listening to her.
Their attention was drawn to a man who was just coming from the place
they were going in. The boys could not help staring at him, for he was
the man who had acted so strangely in the freight depot at Cresville.
CHAPTER XIII
A QUEER STORY
FOR several seconds the boys and the man stared at one another. The
stranger did not seem to be the least bit embarrassed but, on the
contrary, was smiling in a genial manner.
"Is he a friend of yours?" asked Nellie, of Jerry.
"Well, not exactly what you could call a friend," was the answer. "We
don't even know his name," and he spoke in a low voice. "We saw him
back in Cresville, just before we started out west, and he was acting
in a strange manner. We thought--"
"Excuse me," suddenly interrupted the strange man, advancing toward
the group of boys and girls, "but haven't I seen you lads before? Your
faces are very familiar."
"We saw you in the Cresville freight office," declared Ned boldly.
"Exactly! I knew it was somewhere. I remember now. I was there
attending to some goods that had to be shipped in a hurry. I'm glad
you remembered me. To think that I should meet you away out here! It's
a small world, isn't it?" and he smiled, but there was something in
his smile, in his looks and in his manner that the boys did not like.
Neither did the girls, for, as Nellie said afterward, he acted as
though he wanted to make friends so you would not be suspicious of
him.
"Shake hands, won't you?" asked the man, advancing closer to the boys.
"My name is Carson Blowitz, and though it sounds foreign I was born in
this country. I travel around so much I can't give you any particular
place as my residence."
There was no way without being rude of avoiding shaking hands with the
man, and, though there was something in his manner that caused the
boys to feel a distrust of him, they were not going to be impolite on
mere suspicion.
They shook hands with Mr. Blowitz, and Jerry introduced himself, his
chums, the young ladies and Professor Snodgrass, and told, briefly,
the object of their trip.
"Well isn't that nice, now," said Mr. Blowitz, when Jerry had
finished. "The professor comes out here to hunt horned toads, and you
lads come to hunt adventures, Mr. Seabury comes out here in search of
health and I-- well, I'm out here on a sort of hunt myself."
"Are you interested in science?" asked Mr. Snodgrass eagerly. "Perhaps
you and I might go off together after horned toads and web-footed
lizards. Or, if you care for snakes, or insects, I think I can show
you where there are plenty."
"No, no," said Mr. Blowitz, with a laugh, which he tried to make sound
hearty by the mere noise of it. "No, I'm on a different sort of a
search. In fact it's quite a queer story-- perhaps you would like to
hear it. In fact, I'm hunting for a lost ship."
"A lost ship!" exclaimed Bob.
"Well, one that was abandoned just before she sank, and that's about
the same thing. It was abandoned quite a way out, but off this part of
the coast. There is a current setting in towards shore, at this point,
I'm told, and I thought I might get some news of her, or find some of
the wreckage floating in on the beach. That's why you find me here."
"What ship is it?" asked Ned, interested in spite of the aversion he
and the others felt toward Mr. Blowitz.
"It is a brig, Rockhaven by name. But suppose we go inside'? It is
rather warm out here in the sun, and I'm not quite used to this
climate yet. Won't you come in and have some chocolate with me? They
have a very nice drink in here, and I--"
"It's my treat," interrupted Bob.
"No; if I may be so bold as to insist, you must be my guests this
time," went on Mr. Blowitz. "It is not often that I see lads away off
east and meet them a little later, in California, so I must have the
pleasure of their company for a little while. The young ladies too--
I'm very fond of young ladies," and Mr. Blowitz smiled in a manner
that Rose characterized later as "ugly," though just why she thought
so she couldn't explain.
There was no way of getting gracefully out of the invitation, and so
the crowd of young people and the professor accompanied Mr. Blowitz
into the refreshment booth.
They went out into the shaded courtyard, where a fountain of splashing
water at least gave the effect of coolness, if it did not really make
it so. They sat at small tables, and were served with cold chocolate
and sweet cakes, by a pretty Mexican girl. Bob wanted to pay for the
treat but Mr. Blowitz would not hear of it. In fact he played the host
in such a genial way, and seemed so anxious to make every one have a
good time, that the boys were rather ashamed of their first opinion of
him.
Even Rose whispered to Bob that "he was not so bad, when you got
acquainted with him."
"Now I suppose you would like to hear the story of the abandoning of
the brig Rockhaven," said Mr. Blowitz, and the boys nodded.
"I hope no one was drowned," exclaimed Olivia.
"Not as far as we know," replied Mr. Blowitz. "The whole affair is
rather mysterious, and I am seeking information about the fate of the
ship as much as anything else."
"I would like to ask you one question," said Professor Snodgrass, who
had been more interested in the antics of a small bug, walking on the
table, than he was in his chocolate.
"What is it?" inquired Mr. Blowitz.
"Did you, or any of your men notice whether, just before the ship
sank, that all the rats on board deserted it?" asked the scientist. "I
have often heard that rats will desert a sinking ship, and I would
like to know whether it is true. If you made any observations to that
effect I wish you would tell me about them, and I can put them into a
book I am writing about rats and mice."
"I thought you were writing about horned toads," said Bob.
"So I am, but this is another book. This will be in seventeen volumes,
with colored plates. I want to get all the information I can, about
rats."
"I'm sorry that I can't help you," replied Mr. Blowitz. "In fact I
know little about the abandoning of the brig, except what I heard. I
was not aboard, and I don't know whether the rats left it or not. All
I know is that the vessel is lost, and with a fortune aboard."
"A fortune aboard?" inquired Ned.
"Yes, worth about a quarter of a million."
"Is it gold or diamonds?" asked Rose, who was very fond of jewelry and
precious stones.
"Neither one, my dear young lady," said Mr. Blowitz, with as happy a
smile as he could assume. "It is valuable merchandise. Of course there
was some money, and some valuable papers, but the main part of the
cargo was costly merchandise. I'll tell you how it happened. But
first, let us have some more chocolate," and he called to the Mexican
girl waiter.
When the cups had been filled Mr. Blowitz resumed his story.
"I am interested in many enterprises," he said, "and I and some other
men went into a venture to ship some valuable goods to the Santa
Barbara islands, which are not far off this coast. I was the principal
owner, having bought out my partner, and it looked as if I would make
a large sum.
"The vessel sailed from San Francisco, and as the weather was fine, we
looked for a quick trip. I was attending to some of my other business
affairs, having just arrived on this coast from Boston, when I
received a telegram from the captain of the brig, telling me that she
had been abandoned with everything on board. Of course there must have
been an accident. Probably there was a collision, or fire on board, so
that the brig was in a sinking condition. At any rate the captain,
and, I suppose the crew, also, left her. That's why I can't tell
whether they were all saved, though I assume so, as nothing was said
about any one being lost.
"The captain, it appears, was picked up By another vessel, and landed
at a small coast town. He sent me the telegram from there, and I
forwarded him money to come to San Francisco, to meet me. But, for
some reason, he did not arrive, and so I decided to come down here,
and see if I could get any news of the ship and the valuable cargo. Of
course, if the ship sank at once that is the end of her, but, if she
broke up, there is a chance of some parts of her, and perhaps some of
the cargo, being washed ashore. At any rate I would like to get some
news of her, that I might collect the insurance, if nothing else.
"So that's why I'm here. I arrived yesterday, but, so far, I have been
unable to obtain any news of the brig. I left word for the captain to
join me here, and he may arrive at any time. I am glad to have met
you, for it will not be so lonesome now."
"I hope you have good luck," said Nellie, as she arose to leave the
place. "I think we must be going now," she added to her sisters. "Papa
might worry about us."
"Give Mr. Seabury my regards," said Carson Blowitz, "and tell him I
shall do myself the honor of calling on him soon, to pay my respects.
As for you young people, I shall see you again, I hope. I am going to
hire a boat and cruise about in search of my brig-- if I don't get
some news soon-- and perhaps you might like to go along."
"Perhaps," replied Jerry, as he and his chums followed the girls out
of the place.
Mr. Blowitz remained in the courtyard, drinking chocolate, and, as the
little party was leaving Ned looked back. He saw their recent host
pull a bundle of papers from his pocket, and, spreading them on the
table in front of him, closely scan them.
"I don't like that man," declared Nellie, when they were out of
hearing. She was very frank in her statements.
"Neither do I," said Jerry, "though he was nice enough to us."
"He has a strange manner," commented Olivia.
"And that was a queer story he told of the abandoning of the brig,"
went on Bob. "I wonder if he made it up, or if it's true? It seems
strange that the captain would leave his ship, and not give a reason
for it."
"There's some mystery back of it, I think," was the opinion of Rose.
"The less we have to do with Mr. Carson Blowitz, the better it will
be, I think."
"Well, we're not likely to see much of him." said Jerry. But in this
opinion he was mistaken. They were to see and hear much of him, as
later events proved.
CHAPTER XIV
IN A MOTOR BOAT
SEVERAL days after this, during which time the boys had, under the
escort of the three girls, visited many places of interest, Rose
suggested they make a trip on the bay.
"But what can we go in?" asked Bob. "We haven't any boat."
"We have several rowing skiffs," said Nellie. "I know they are not as
fine as your Dartaway, but you can have a nice time. The fishing is
good, and it is very pleasant on the water."
"It would be pleasant wherever you girls were," said Ned, with an
attempt at gallantry.
"Thank you!" exclaimed Nellie, making a low, bow.
"You're improving, Ned," remarked Jeer, critically. "In time you'll be
able to go out in polite society."
"Oh, is that so'?" remarked Ned, sarcastically, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," retorted Jerry, bowing low.
"Oh, stow that away for use at some future time," advised Bob. "Come
on, if we're going out in a boat."
There was a little wharf, at which the Seaburys kept a couple of
rowboats, and, as six were too many to go into one craft, Nellie and
Jerry occupied the smaller, while Bob and Ned, Olivia and Rose, got
into the other.
"Where shall we go?" asked Ned.
"Oh, row around anywhere," replied Jerry. "We'll have to get used to
oars, we haven't handled 'em in quite a while."
The boys soon found that the skill with which they had formerly used
the ashen blades, before the era of their motor boat, was coming back
to them, and they sent the skiffs around the bay at fairly good speed,
the two crafts keeping close together.
"This is something like work," announced Jerry, as he rested on his
oars, and let the boat drift with the tide, which was running in.
"That's what it is," declared Ned. "I wish--"
"Thank you!" exclaimed Olivia. "I'm sure we're very sorry that we have
given you so much work. We didn't know we were so heavy; did we
girls?"
"No, indeed!" chimed in Rose. "If you will kindly row us back to
shore, we'll get out and you boys can go where you please. Work! The
idea!"
"Oh, I say now!" cried Ned, alarmed at the effect of his words. "I
didn't mean-- Jerry didn't mean-- we--"
"Of course not!" added Jerry. "I only said--"
"You said it was hard work to row us around," declared Nellie in
rather icy tones.
"Well I meant-- you see since we had a motor boat-- that is I-- we--
it's rather--"
"Now don't try to get out of it and make it worse," advised Olivia.
"We know what you said, and what you meant."
"I didn't say anything," put in Bob, with an air of virtue.
"Good reason," declared Jerry. "You're so busy eating that cocoanut
candy that you didn't have time to speak. Besides you're not rowing."
"Oh, has he got cocoanut candy!" cried Nellie. "Give me some and we'll
forgive you for the rude way you and Ned spoke, Jerry. Won't we
girls?"
"Of course," chorused Olivia and Rose.
"I-- I didn't know you cared for cocoanut candy," declared Bob, rather
ashamed that he had not, before this, offered the girls some.
"Oh, don't we though!" exclaimed Nellie. "Just you pass some over and
you'll see, Bob," for the two boats had drifted close together.
Bob, who had purchased a big bag full of the confection, before they
had started for the row, passed it over, and the girls helped
themselves generously.
"Take it all," advised Ned, who, perhaps, felt a little vindictive at
Bob, because of that youth's lucky escape from displeasing the girls
by unfortunate remarks.
"No, thank you, we don't want to rob him," said Olivia.
At that moment a shrill whistle sounded just behind the rowboats and
the girls turned around to see what it was. Ned and Jerry, from the
position in which they sat to handle the oars had seen a motor boat
approaching, and they had stopped using the blades to watch its
approach.
"Oh, that's the Ripper!" exclaimed Rose. "And Charlie Farson is all
alone in her. Maybe he'll give us a ride."
"Who is Charlie Farson?" asked Jerry of Nellie.
"He's a friend of Rose. He lives in San Francisco, but he is staying
with his uncle at a bungalow about two miles from where we are. He
owns that motor boat, and it's the biggest and fastest on this part of
the coast. Sometimes he takes us out with him. I hope he does so now.
He's headed right this way."
"Um," grunted Jerry, not altogether pleased that a young fellow with a
motor boat should come along, and claim the girls who, of course,
would naturally prefer a power craft to one propelled by oars.
Rose waved her handkerchief and, in answer the captain of the Ripper
sent out three shrill blasts as a salute.
"Oh, isn't that fine! He's coming over here!" exclaimed Rose. "I'll
introduce you boys to him."
Neither Ned nor Bob looked very pleased at the prospect of meeting a
youth who might be a rival in entertaining the girls, but there was no
help for it.
On came the Ripper, and, as she approached, the motor boys could not
help admiring her. The craft was powerful and swift, much more so than
the Dartaway had been. It was considerably larger, too, and had an
enclosed cabin.
"That's a dandy!" exclaimed Jerry in spite of himself.
"It's a peach!" was Ned's half-spoken comment.
"All to the mustard!" came Bob's characteristic comment.
"Want a ride, or a tow?" called Charlie Farson, when he got within
hailing distance, and he slowed down his craft.
"I guess we'll ride, if you'll tow our boats," replied Rose, for she
knew the young fellow fairly well.
"All right, come aboard."
By this time the Ripper was quite close, and, in another moment it had
come alongside of the boat containing Rose, Olivia, Ned and Bob.
"These are some friends of ours from the east," said Rose, introducing
Ned and Bob, "There's another one, in that boat with Nellie," she went
on, telling Jerry's name.
"I'm sure I'm glad to meet you all," said Charlie Farson, with such
good nature, that the boys could feel no resentment toward him. "Come
aboard, and we'll go for a spin. I guess it will be best to anchor
your two boats here and you can pick them up when we come back. We can
make better time then."
"Oh, your boat always makes good time," complimented Nellie, as she
made her way to the cabin of the Ripper. "That's the only objection I
have. You run her so fast that if you ever hit anything it would sink
your boat before you had time to jump overboard."
"But I'm not going to hit anything," declared Charlie.
He tied the two rowboats together, the other boys helping him, and
then anchored them with a small, spare kedge he carried on his craft.
"All ready?" he asked, looking to see that his passengers were
comfortably seated.
"Already, Captain Charlie," answered Rose.
"Here we go then," and Charlie threw in the dutch of the engine, that
had not ceased working,
The Ripper fairly flew away, so suddenly that Bob, who was near the
stern, nearly toppled overboard.
"Look out!" cried Charlie.
"Oh, I'm looking out now," said Bob. "Say, but she can go!"
"Yes, she has some speed," modestly admitted Charlie.
He turned on more gasolene and advanced the spark still further, so
that the boat increased her rate, piling up waves of white foam on
either side.
They had a fine trip about the bay, the girls and boys thoroughly
enjoying themselves, the latter being particularly interested in the
engine part of the craft. The motor boys told the other lad of the
Dartaway and how the craft had been destroyed.
"My, but I certainly would like to run this boat," announced Jerry
with a sigh. "She's a dandy!"
"Maybe you'll get the chance," said Charlie.
"The chance? How? What do you mean?" asked Jerry, while his two chums
eagerly waited for Charlie's answer.
CHAPTER XV
CAUGHT IN THE FOG
"WELL," replied Charlie as he sent the Ripper around in a big circle,
"you see it's this way. I came down here expecting to stay with my
uncle until Spring. I was going to learn how to raise oranges. I
received word this morning that I would have to go back to my home in
San Francisco. My father needs me there, because of a change in his
business, and I've got to go."
"That's too bad!" exclaimed Rose.
"I guess you are thinking more of his motor boat than you are of
Charlie," said Nellie, with a laugh at her sister.
"I was not!" declared Rose, indignantly.
"Well, I've got to leave my boat here," went on Charlie.
"Leave it here!" repeated Olivia.
"Yes, and I'm looking for some one to take charge of it while I'm
gone."
"Take charge of it!" exclaimed Ned and Bob at once, while a joyous
look came into Jerry's eyes.
"What I mean," said Charlie, "is that I would hire it out. I think
that would be a better plan than merely to loan it to some one, for
there is a chance that it might be damaged, and would have to be
repaired, and, if I got a reasonable rent for it that would cover such
a mishap."
"Would you hire it to us?" asked Jerry anxiously.
"I was thinking of that," answered the owner of the Ripper. "I heard
from my friend, Rose," and he looked at the girl, "that you boys had
had some experience with motor boats. I had rather hire mine out to
some one who knew about machinery, than to persons who would have to
learn. So, if we can make some deal, you may have a chance to run this
boat. I've got to go to San Francisco in about a week."
"We'll take the boat," said Jerry quickly, "that is--"
"Oh, you needn't be afraid I'll ask too much money for her,"
interposed Charlie. "All I want is enough to pay for any possible
damages, and for reasonable wear and tear. We'll talk it over later."
"Say, isn't that glorious!" whispered Ned to Bob. "Think of having a
motor boat, and cruising on the Pacific! We're getting to be like
Sinbad the sailor, making voyages all over."
"Yes, but maybe he'll want a small fortune for the hire of the
Ripper," objected Bob. "We haven't any too much money, for this trip
was rather costly."
"If we could get damages for the Dartaway, we--"
"Yes, but 'if' is a big word, even though it only has two letters,"
replied Bob quickly. "However, we'll do our best to get the Ripper
during our stay here, and we'll take the girls out for some nice
rides."
"That's what we will."
Charlie speeded his boat about the bay for some time longer, and then;
as the girls said they thought they had better go home, he put back,
picked up the anchored boats, and the motor boys and their hosts were
soon rowing to shore.
"Come over any evening, Charlie," called Rose.
"Yes, come to-night," urged Jerry. "We can talk over the boat
proposition then."
"I'll be there," replied the Ripper's skipper, as he put about and
went whizzing over the blue waters of the bay.
When the young people entered the gateway they saw Ponto stretched out
on the bench in the shade, fast asleep.
"Wait a minute," said Rose. "I'll play a trick on him."
She stole softly up, and, with a long piece of grass tickled the old
colored servant on the ear. He put up his hand and sat up with a
start.
"I 'clar' t' goodness!" he said, "I were jest waitin' fo' yo', an' I
close mah eyes, jest fo' one little second, but dis atmosphere am so
slumberous dat, 'fore I knows it, I'm sort of noddin'."
"I guess you were more than nodding," said Olivia. "But why were you
waiting for us, Ponto?"
"'Deed an' I didn't no mo' dan nod, Miss Olivia, dat's what I didn't.
But I'se been waitin' heah a pow'ful long time, an' I jest natcherly
done gone an' fell t' noddin'."
"But what were you waiting for?" persisted Olivia.
"Dis letter," replied the colored man. "Massa Seabury done tole me t'
give it t' one ob de young gentlemen what had de motor boat. He say it
come from Cresville, an' it might be important, so I done set heah
waitin', but I done forgot which young gentlemen he tole me t' gib it
to."
"Let me see it," said Rose, and she looked at the envelope.
"It's for you, Jerry," she declared, "and it's from some railroad
company. It's been sent on here from Cresville."
"Maybe it's about damages to our boat," said Bob.
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